Clamp for placing springs in spring-casings



H. RINN, JR- CLAMP FOR PLACING SPRIN CASINGS.

as IN SPRING APPLICATION FILED NOV. I7, 1919- Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

UNITED, STATES HENRY RINN, JR., 0F ELKRIDGE, MARYLAND.

CLAMF FOR PLACING SPRINGS IN SPRING-CASINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application filed November 17, 1919. Serial No. 338,551.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY RINN, Jr., acitizen of the United States, residing at Elkridge, in the county ofHoward and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clamps for Placing Springs in Spring-Casings, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps for placing springs inspring casings.

An important object of the invention is to provide a clamping means bywhich a spring may be placed in a deep casing. As is well knownby thosefamiliar with the art, clock-work springs are shipped from the factorysurrounded by a binding wire which prevents the springs from assumingthe open position. If this wire is removed before the spring is placedwithin the casing, the spring assumes the open position and is extremelydifficult to place within the casing and secure therein.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 318,971, filed August 21, 1919,I have shown a clamp which is adapted to hold the spring to allowremoval of the binding wire and to hold the spring in the closed orcoiled position until the spring is placed within the spring casing.This clamp, however, is not adapted for use in casings of great depth,as for example, a casing wherein two or more springs are superposed.This application accordingly embodies improvements upon the clamp shownin my co-pending application above mentioned.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the course ofthe following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like numeralsdesignate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clockwork spring showing my clamp inposition thereof.

Fig. 2 is a section taken through the spring casing showing my clamp inuse for insertingthe spring therein.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the spring casing and spring with the clamp inposition.

Fig. 4; is a side elevation of a modified form of clamp, and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the clamp shown in Fig. a.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10indicates a clockwork spring held in a coiled position by means of abinding wire 11. This spring is adapted for placement in a casing 12having upstanding walls 13 of suflicient height to receive two of thesprings. The walls 13 are provided with outstanding lugs 14: whichengage in the usual notch formed in the spring to hold the outer endthereof against rotation.

A clamp is provided comprising members 15- and 16, similar in shape,each of the members being provided at its lower end with a thin jaw 16of uniform thickness throughout its length. Adjusting screw 17 isprovided extending through the member 15 and having threaded engagementin the member 16. A clamping screw 18 is also provided having threadedengagement in .the member 15, and seating in a recess formed in themember 16. It will be observed that the operating ends are both disposedto one side of the clamp. These operating ends are provided with theusual squared shoulder adapted to receive a link or the like foroperating screws.

Itwill be observed that the face 20 of the member 16 closely engages theinner face of the casing and is shaped to corre spond thereto and thatthe operating screws are so disposed as to prevent an engagement withthe casing thus preventing difficulty in operating the clamp afterplacing the spring within the case.

Those familiar with the art are aware that several of the inner turns ofa clockwork spring separate when the main body of the spring is held bythe binding wire as suggested by Fig. 3. The j aws 16 being thin, allowtheir ready insertion intermediate the turns where separate and being ofthe same size throughout their length prevents the clamp from beingmoved upj- 1L wardly, as would be the case were a tapered jaw insertedintermediate the turns.

'In the modified form shown in Figs. 1 and 5, a link 20 is pivotallyconnected with the member 15 and a link 21 with the member 16, theselinks being pivotally connected to one another as at 22. This linkconnection between the two members prevents the jaws of the clamp frommoving out of alinement when one or both of-the screws become completelydisengaged and also prevents the parts from becoming separated. The

advantages of this form will be apparent to those familiar with the art.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herein shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts shownmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a clamp forinserting springs in spring casings,a pair of clampingmembers, each provided upon one end with a clamping jaw of approximatelyuniform thickness throughout its length, a clamping screw and anadjusting screw connecting said members, the operating ends of saidscrews being disposed to one side of said member, said :limping screwhaving threaded engagement with one of said members and having its innerend abutting the other of said members, said adjusting screw beingrotatably mounted in but free from threaded engage ment with said firstnamed member and having threaded engagement with said last named member.

2. In a clamp for inserting springs in spring casings, a pair ofclamping members, each provided upon one end with a clamping jaw ofapproximately uniform thickness throughout its length, a clamping screwand an adjusting screw connecting said members, the operating ends ofsald screws being disposed to one side of sald members, and

means for holding said jaws in alinement when one or both of said screwsis out of engagement with one of said members.

3. In a clamp for inserting springs in springs casings, a pair ofclamping members, each provided upon one end with a clamping aw ofapproximately uniform thickness throughout its length, a clamping screwand an adjusting screw connecting said members, the operating ends ofsaid screw being disposed to one side of said members, and means forholding said jaws in alinement when one or both of said screws is out ofengagement with one of said members, comprising a pair of pivotallyconnected inks, one of said links being pivoted to one of said membersand the other of said links being pivoted to the other of said members.7 V

4:- In a clamp for inserting springs in spring casings, a pair ofsimilar clamping members each provided upon one end with a reducedportion forming a clamping jaw of approximately uniform thicknessthroughout its length, a clamping screw and an adjusting screwconnecting said members, the operating ends of said screws beingdisposed to one side of said members, the member remote from saidoperating ends having a smooth, substantially straight, outer face.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY RINN, JR.

Witnesses: V

J 01m H. LOESOH,

R. E; KARGH.

